Phil Mickelson has suggested he could soon step away from LIV Golf as a playing member and lead his team from outside the ropes after a difficult season, and the HyFlyers captain is not the only one

Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson have both said they could step away from playing on LIV Golf

Phil Mickelson has dropped a fresh hint that his iconic career could soon come to an end amid a difficult season for the LIV Golf star, and he is not the only member of the breakaway circuit who could move into a backroom role.

The 54-year-old was a founding member of the Saudi Arabia-funded league in 2022, but he is yet to claim a victory and has just one top-10 finish this season. That came in Jeddah back in March, with his form declining dramatically and he sits 44th in the standings out of 56 players with just two events remaining in the campaign.

Mickelson is not blind to the fact that his best days on the course are behind him, and ahead of next week’s event at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, the HyFlyers team captain said he knows he will have to step aside if his form does not improve.

“I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level, but I’m also realistic with myself, and if I’m not able to I’ll step aside and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels,” Mickelson said.

“I’m in every major on the regular tour next year, and I’ll be in three of the four majors for the next six, seven years. I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those, and I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable and that people strive to be a part of.

“How I do that, whether it’s internally as a player and so forth, or whether it’s strictly from the outside, I’m going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward probably the rest of my life, and then my playing career I’ll be realistic where I’m at, too.”

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Mickelson signed a deal worth in the region of £150million when he jumped ship from the PGA Tour, and he also owns an equity stake in the HyFlyers, meaning his interest in the team will last beyond his playing days.

There is potential for the six-time major champion to become a non-playing captain and general manager of his team when he does decide to call it a day, and he is not the only member of the league that could have the same decision to make.

Bubba Watson is feeling the heat after a poor season on LIV Golf (

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Getty Images)Bubba Watson

Watson, 45, has had a dreadful season and has looked a shadow of the player who won The Masters in 2012 and 2014. The former world No. 2 is 51st in the standings and was put in the spotlight by LIV commissioner Greg Norman ahead of LIV Golf UK last month, telling Watson he is under pressure to keep his place in the league.

Watson is the captain and a part-owner of the Range Goats team, which puts him in a similar situation to Mickelson. Although his captaincy protects him from relegation, it is clear LIV’s bosses are not happy with his performances.

Watson has admitted he will voluntarily step down and become a non-playing captain if his form does not improve.

“I told my team if they don’t think I am good enough to play, they can kick me out and we will put another good golfer in my place. I am going to play until they kick me out,” the Florida native said.

“I love helping the young guys. They are all trying to be better and also better at golf. I get to influence three golfers in life, they are all parents and young dads. I want to be there for them and if they have a problem, I want to be able to help them.”

Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson

It has been a rough year for the Majesticks trio, who are co-captains of the team. Westwood, 51, is having the best of it, sitting at 34th place in the standings – thanks largely to a third-place finish in Nashville which elevated him out of the drop zone.

Stenson and Poulter, 48, are in 39th and 45th place respectively, hovering just above the drop zone. The trio have made no admissions that they want to give up any time soon, but their form speaks for itself and if LIV is to continue aggressively chasing top young talent, they could feel the same heat that Watson is getting from Norman.

It has been a tough season for Majesticks trio Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter (

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Jared C. Tilton/LIV via Getty Images)

Poulter and Westwood were founding members of the league, with 48-year-old Stenson joining soon after and winning on his debut at LIV Golf Bedminster two years ago. That is the only victory for a Majesticks player as LIV nears the end of its third season.

The trio have all had stellar careers but they have passed their peak, and if they have another tough season in 2025, backroom roles could be a topic of discussion with the league’s bosses. Regardless of their form, the Ryder Cup heroes are an asset to the league – even if they do not tee it up.

Dustin Johnson

The 40-year-old still has a lot left in the tank, and he won in Las Vegas early this season, but he has not contended for a victory since. His performances at the majors were poor, too.

The two-time major champion will not be thinking of stepping back just yet, but his move to LIV was influenced by the lighter schedule on offer and questions have been raised if he has lost the 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er instinct he had when he was world No. 1 and a contender at the start every tournament he played in.

The 4Aces captain is one of LIV’s stronger brands and Johnson has been perhaps the league’s most successful captain in gaining sponsorships and laying lasting foundations for his team.

If he feels content with his achievements a few years down the road and has had enough of the rigours of tournament golf, it would be no surprise to see him leading his team from the other side of the ropes.

Of course, Johnson remains one of the most talented players to pick up a club and it cannot be discounted that he might soon rediscover his form and rack up more big wins in the future.